The 12 outfits of Christmas, day 7 - a pretty much go anywhere look...

So when I agreed to a party for 35, fifteen and sixteen year olds tonight, I didn't realise that not only would my phone be confiscated as it was needed to play music through but also that there would be so many people trying to use the wifi that the internet would crash. The rest of the family and I have been confined to our bedroom whilst the house shakes around us.

I'm hoping that I can load several more outfits as this post was going to be about outfits that I have worn casually recently. Nothing particularly special, just a few different outfits which may offer some ideas. I'm not sure that it's going to work though....the internet is still not happy (and nor, it has to be said, is Mr SG who is complaining, at 19.36 I have to add, that he has to go to work tomorrow, that everything will be broken, that there will be lots of clearing up to do and that no more parties will be allowed. Party flippin pooper.)

Now you've all seen this Whistles dress many times over but it's a favourite of mine and here I'm ringing the changes slightly (I know, how many ways can you wear one dress but I need to get the cost per wear down) with red Kurt Geiger shoes and a coral H&M necklace.

Sadly the rest of the photos won't load - in fact I don't know whether this post will even publish but I'll have a go and bring you the other photos once calm has been restored.

How to look good naked...but I think that I prefer these ladies with clothes on! (From Warehouse, Coast, Karen Millen, Dune, Ted Baker, Jaeger)

 

Yesterday evening I was working with the Solihull BID  at the Mell Square Shopping Centre and specifically, with House of Fraser. The photo above shows the seating area where I sat and chatted to my ladies. Put together by the interiors team, I would quite liked to have picked it all up and taken it home with me.

These were part of the team with whom I was working.  Boy were they heavy (sorry ladies). Dressing these models was so tricky - their arms kept falling off, they wouldn't bend or move in the way that I wanted them too, I kept groping their boobs (and apologising to them)!  I have so much respect for the VMs who work with them on a daily basis in the confined space of shop windows.

The models were to be dressed in work wear so I wanted to include a dress option and a trouser option, print on the top half, print on the bottom half, colour, texture, matching bag and shoes, clashing bag and shoes, open shoes and closed shoes, together with classic, and more on trend, pieces.

Model 1 wore printed trousers and a pale blue lace top from Warehouse to reference the pale blue in the trousers, a Ted Baker mac with Dune shoes and bag - very matchy, matchy - but they could easily be separated out.

I love Dune for their range of inexpensive but stylish bags. They have a lovely coral one plus some nice tan and black ones too.

The great thing about these trousers is that there are so many colours with which to work. I felt that the print of the trouser and the texture of the top demanded a simple, classic shape in a coat.

The shoes are black at the back. I like the closed toe for those who don't feel that open toed shoes are appropriate at work. Love the leopard print lining in the coat too!

Model 2 sported a little neon and black number from Coast -which almost looks like a skirt and top option - together with a softly tailored jacket, also from Coast.

The leopard print bag is from Biba. I fancied introducing a print as a black bag, whilst safe, was a bit too predictable. The patent shoes were from Kurt Geiger.

I wanted to break the neon pink up, so chose this large linked necklace from Karen Millen. I like this necklace for work. It's really versatile and has a good weight to it, with just a little bit of bling in the smaller links.

Model 3 wore a printed kimono style jacket from Yumi, a cream Warehouse top, Episode trousers, Dune shoes and a Jaeger bag.

I love the colours in this softly tailored jacket as there are so many different ones that could be picked up elsewhere in an outfit. It would also be great with jeans at the weekend. The Warehouse top has a slight texture to it and the necklace, which picks up the brown shades in the jacket, is from Ted Baker.

I love this Jaeger bag! It's as near as it needs to be to the shade of blue in the jacket and the shoes pick up the coral in the jacket. The shoes may be a bit high for work but maybe not. The trousers are a lovely fabric - nice and drapey with just the right amount of room in the leg.

Ladies, it was lovely working with you - even the ones that were rigid and not very chatty!

Hunting for silver shoes for you (similar to my Zara ones) at Aldo, House of Fraser and Kurt Geiger

 

After posting this outfit I had a lot of people asking me where I bought these silver shoes, which has prompted me to do a post on similar styles. My shoes were bought from Zara about a year ago now. They weren't very expensive and they're not leather but they are a good heel height and the pointy toe was  bit different - then! I can't find any exactly the same but there are some that are pretty similar....

These Aldo shoes at House of Fraser (£60) were about the closest that I could find in terms of price, heel height (although they look a little higher than mine) and toe shape. The T-bar part is lacking but other than that, they are really similar.

The Kurt Geiger Yasmin courts at House of Fraser (£220) are similar in style too, with a crocodile print worked in there. Quite a lot of the Kurt Geiger styles are on sale on the KG site so it maybe worth looking there for a cheaper option if you really like them.

For a block version heel, also with a crocodile print, these Ella shoes at Kurt Geiger are a nice option, and they are down to £49 from £195.

The Mercada shoes at Kurt Geiger are down from £220 to £109.  They have a pretty jewelled strap, which would work really well with rolled up jeans.

The Maniah silver shoes by Kurt Geiger (£95) have the T-bar but not the closed in toe. I love the studded ankle straps and the heel height is good. Great for those with slim ankles!

The Millie sandal by Hobbs NW3 (down to £75 from£129) is just a lovely everyday sandal, rather than necessarily being similar to the style that I am wearing - although they could be worn in just the same way and with their block heel, they are probably slightly more versatile for the day time too.

 

And following on from my post on wooden and cork soled shoes the other day, I love these wooden silver shoes by Kurt Geiger (£120). They have a really great day time heel height to them and will instantly update jeans, utility trousers, cargos and chinos for the spring.

Finally, although this post is meant to be about silver shoes some prefer gold, so these gold shoes by Kurt Geiger (£55) have earned themselves a place for their price, heel height and shape and general all round versatility.

I really hope that you have enjoyed some sun over the weekend. It makes such a lovely change doesn't it? Tomorrow I am working on a short film/promotional video and I see from the call sheet that as part of that, I will be working with a.....horse. Hmmmm - I'm not quite sure which end I would rather be.   

Swapping skinnies jeans for a flared pair...

 

Today just felt like the kind of day for a flared jean and some heels. I bought the jeans from Jaeger Boutique in the sale a couple of summers ago. They are high waisted and very supportive - in fact I used not to be able to wear them as they made me feel faint, which wasn't really very good at all. They are OK now though and having done a long run today, I felt the need for clothing which would hold me upright and which would prevent me from collapsing like a jelly on the floor. They did the trick up until 7.45pm and then I gave up on clothes in favour of my Onesie.

Being of the chilly persuasion, I also wore a Cos chunky roll neck and my Primark fur gilet which is great for the school run and nipping in and out of the car. I find that if my torso is warm, I can cope without wearing sleeves and the lack of fuss and flapping of a longer coat is always welcome!

These red patent Kurt Geiger shoes, which were also a sale purchase a while ago now, made a nice change to boots and their chunky heel works with a flared jean, more so than a thinner, more delicate heel - especially in the day time.

As much as skinny jeans have a big role to play in my life, some days only a flared jean will do and there's no denying that their shape definitely makes you feel more elegant and elongated. I suspect that over the next few seasons we're going to see more of them making an appearance so get ready for them....the bootcuts will be back!

Mum on the Run - An outfit for a soggy sports day part 2

Almost two years ago now I wrote a post entitled " A soggy sports day". It has turned out to be my second most viewed post of all times, which says a lot about the weather at school sports days!

Given that there are likely to be sports days happening all over the country, and given that I was at one today which could at best be described as chilly, I thought that I would post another outfit for "a soggy sports day".

This was an outfit of layers! For my first layer I wore a peacock blue lace vest from Jigsaw (see picture/link below, although I'm not sure that there is a peacock blue one at present. Mine is quite old now). These are great vests as they have lace around both the neckline and around the hem, which gives a nice touch to an outfit.

 

Jigsaw lace vest (£24)

 

 

The next layer up was a silk/cotton cowl neck top from Jigsaw (again, the picture/link are below), followed by a Zara blazer. The top also comes in navy. I wasn't too sure about it to start off with but I like the cowl neck, the fact that it has some "thickness" about it, if that makes sense and the fact that it is versatile and can be accessorised with necklaces/scarves/belts etc. Also it's quite a relaxed fit.

 

This is a clearer picture of the silk/cotton cowl top from Jigsaw (£79)

Accessories came in the form of a leopard print Topshop belt, leopard print Boden bag and Kurt Geiger sweep boots. I also wore three bracelets layered together - one Fat Face, one White Stuff and one by La La Rocks.

Was I dry? Yes, because it didn't rain. Was I warm? Flip no, that's why I also wore my thickest grungiest Jigsaw parka over the top. The parka which really should have been consigned to a wardrobe somewhere far, far away in about March, or April at the very latest, but sadly no it was still on the coat stand in the hall.

I have another sports day next week - let's see what the weather does for that one! Ooh, by the way, who else is excited about the new collaboration between H&M and Isabel Marant? I can't wait to see the preview of that collection - what a coup for H&M.

On the Run - A day off for me but a guest appearance by someone else!

Today I am featuring Ceri, a really lovely lady who had several events coming up and who needed an outfit or two to wear - and this is one of them.

Ceri and I have worked together before and on that occasion, as one of her outfits, we opted for a black, v-neck style ruched  jersey dress from Coast. 

This time we decided to go for a different colour and fabric, with a hint of an Adele look about it. Ceri prefers a knee length dress, and the lacy fabric and sheer lace sleeves worked really well for her. The fact that it nipped in just under her bust was also really flattering to her figure. This dress was also from Coast.

On this occasion, Ceri put the dress with black tights and high black patent Kurt Geiger Assemble shoes, which you can see here

                                                       
                     

On another occasion, Ceri styled the dress with nude tights...

....and these amazing sparkly Anna shoes, also from Kurt Geiger, which she found really comfortable to wear when dancing away to Abba! She says that whenever she wears them, people always ask her where she got them from.  Ceri is definitely a shoe girl - the higher and brighter the better!

                                                        
  

I love these shoes - they are proper Cinderella shoes.

Ceri loves her dress, which she has said was her best buy ever - with her shoes being her second best buy ever. I love it when people have things in their wardrobe which they enjoy wearing.  I have come across several ladies recently who have cancelled a night out as a result of not having anything to wear, which is a real shame.  We all need at least one lovely outfit we can call on when an opportunity comes our way - because we never know when that may be.

Mum on the Run - Red shoes

Another Monday, my favourite day of the week.  Our youngest and I did "the balls" followed by seeing a friend, pottering, cooking, going to ballet and getting the other two from school (all very mumsnet!)  I had put these red shoes away for the summer, but it was such a dull day that I thought a splash of colour wouldn't go a miss.  I layered a white shirt under a bat wing v neck jumper, added some straight jeans and I was done.  Not an accessory in sight but not to worry.

Shoes Kurt Geiger, jeans Gap, Shirt Zara, Jumper White Company

Mum on the Run - a Spring knit

Today I decided to see whether I could get away with swapping a coat for a piece of knitwear - and it worked.  This cardi is too bulky to go under most of my coats but is warm enough to stand on its own two feet once the weather warms up slightly.  Needless to say there were plenty of layers going on underneath! 

(The other fortunate thing about this cardigan is that you can't see the evidence of the piece of amazing chocolate mud cake that I have just eaten courtesy of Caroline from Caroline's Cakes.  It's so fab having talented and kind neighbours! Off for another piece before the school run.....)

Mum on the Run - Lace and leather

I was shopping with a client today which meant that comfort was paramount.  There was also the issue of whether it would start off cold and end up hot but I decided that there wasn't much I could do about that so ignored it on the basis that I could deal with it later.  As it was it rained so it wasn't a problem at all. 

I thought that it was time to give the navy lace Mango skirt a day time outing and so after the self imposed ban on navy, sequins and stripes yesterday put it with a navy sequin jumper (under which there was a striped top).  My cream leather jacket is great for this time of year so that went on with the red shoes and navy patent bag.

Outfit: Skirt Mango, Jumper Warehouse, Striped top Jigsaw, Jacket Oasis, Shoes Kurt Geiger, Bag LK Bennett

Mum on the Run day 29 - Not quite monochrome

This started off as a monochrome outfit but didn't end up that way, due to the addition of the bright shoes and teal scarf.  What can I say?  I like a bit of colour here and there.

Today was an unusual day for me as I had some time at home.  I did a quick gym trip, which was followed by a visit to Vintage Beauty to get my nails shaped and polished.  The lovely Kally did it for £5 and it was definitely one of the best £5 that I have ever spent.  You can find her at http://www.vintagebeauty.co/ So, I now have nice bright pink nails for my meeting tomorrow and my Style Party on Saturday night. 

After doing some jobs at home (ie sorting out the rat man to come and sort out our rats - what a glamourous life I lead) Caroline from Caroline's Cake Company http://www.carolinescakecompany.co.uk/ then visited for a cuppa.  If you need a special cake, she is the lady for the job.

This evening I am off to see our eldest in a dance production at school.  With lots of dashing around and four children for dinner tonight, I knew that I wouldn't have time to change .

So, has this outfit done the job for me today?  I reckon so - although I wasn't really demanding that much of it other than being warm, comfortable, casual enough for the day and smart enough to go out this evening - OK, may be I was being quite demanding!

The dress is comfortable and layering a long vest underneath stopped it from being too sheer.  The addition of a black cardi kept me warm whilst the scarf just injected a bit of colour next to my face.  I always like wearing my Reiss biker jacket - it just stops things from being too twee.  It's not my favourite but it was OK.

Outfit: Dress Coast, Cardigan Hobbs, Jacket Reiss, Shoes Kurt Geiger, Bag Marc Jacobs, Scarf Cos

Mum on the Run day 13 - Time for Tea!

Today I am wearing a tea dress - appropriate really as my "afternoon tea" started at 8.45am with Cadbury's chocolate animals, soon to be followed by home made lemon cake and flapjack.  Not a particularly healthy start to the week - but that's the great thing about dressses; no waistbands!

I love dresses as they are such an easy outfit -and no wardrobe should be without a good day dress.  I layered a long sleeved top underneath for - yes, you guessed it - warmth and also a boyfriend cardigan over it, to keep it casual.  I love boyfriend cardigans but some can be hard to wear as they finish out your widest point.  Wearing one the same colour as the dress meant that the divide was less obvious than it had been with a pink one that I had had on previously.  I sometimes wear a shorter fitted cardi with this dress and put a skinny belt over the top, just to dress it up a bit.  The red shoes added a bit of height and colour but later on in the day I swapped them for my biker boots - which I was glad about as I had to run down the High Street to make it to ballet on time.

Outfit: Dress Topshop, Long sleeved top Topshop, Cardigan Oasis, Tights M&S, Shoes Kurt Geiger